Babe Ruth Hot Stove Dinner January 16

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball will have its Third Annual Hot Stove Dinner on Thursday, January 16, from 6 to 9 pm at The Waterview in Monroe. This night of baseball is designed to promote a positive baseball culture in the area and will include a talk from current Major Leaguer John McDonald.

McDonald, who played with the World Champion Boston Red Sox last season, has played more than ten years in the Major Leagues for six different ball clubs including the Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers.

Quinnipiac Head Baseball Coach Dan Gooley will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Central Connecticut State University Head Baseball Coach Charlie Hickey will introduce McDonald whom he coached at Providence College.

The evening will include a question and answer segment with an expert baseball panel comprising Gooley, Hickey, McDonald, Justin Blood, and Head Baseball Coach at University of Hartford and Newtown High School Head Baseball Coach Matt Memoli, who also played for Hickey at Central.

Proceeds will be donated to Newtown Baseball and S4 (Sarah and Southbury Strikeout Seizures) for The Cure for Epilepsy and The Max Michael Rosenfield Foundation which is committed to helping children of all abilities experience childhood joys.

“The Hot Stove Dinner has become an annual tradition for our community,” said Newtown Baseball President Andy Via.

“Each year, we look forward to bringing all of our age groups together — players, coaches and parents — to celebrate the game we all love. In keeping with the spirit of prior dinners, we are also raising awareness and funds for a charitable cause with local ties. This year, we are honored to be working with the Fradkin family and S4 to help strike out epilepsy and the Rosenfield family in Ridgefield to honor the way Max lived his life,” Via added.

The cost is $40 for adults and $20 for children under 16. The price includes appetizers, a buffet dinner, a sundae buffet, giveaways, and the panel discussion. Attendees may also take part in a silent auction. The public is welcome to attend.

For more information go to the Newtown Babe Ruth website, newtownbaseball.com, call Chris Petersen at 203-448-0896, or send an e-mail to deborahmailloux@yahoo.com.